Medical Coding, Billing & Patient Financial Services salary guide

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Published BLS wages for this family. BLS OEWS May 2025.

Medical Coder (Certified Coder, CPC, CCS) SOC 29-2072, Medical Records Specialists. direct match.
Inpatient Coder (DRG Coder) SOC 29-2072, Medical Records Specialists. broader match.
Outpatient & ED Coder SOC 29-2072, Medical Records Specialists. broader match.
Professional Fee Coder (Pro-Fee, Physician Coder) SOC 29-2072, Medical Records Specialists. broader match.
Surgical & Specialty Coder (Interventional, Cardiology, Orthopedic) SOC 29-2072, Medical Records Specialists. broader match.
Risk Adjustment Coder (HCC Coder, CRC) SOC 29-2072, Medical Records Specialists. broader match.
Medical Biller (Billing Specialist) SOC 43-3021, Billing and Posting Clerks. direct match.
AR / Insurance Follow-Up Specialist SOC 43-3021, Billing and Posting Clerks. proxy match.
Denials & Appeals Specialist SOC 43-9199, Office and Administrative Support Workers, All Other. broader match.
Charge Capture Specialist (Charge Entry) SOC 43-3021, Billing and Posting Clerks. broader match.
Credentialing Specialist (Medical Staff Credentialing) SOC 43-4161, Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping. broader match.
Provider Enrollment Specialist (Payer Enrollment) SOC 43-4161, Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping. broader match.
Patient Access Representative (Registrar, Admitting Rep) SOC 43-4051, Customer Service Representatives. broader match.
Prior Authorization Specialist (Pre-Cert, Referral Coordinator) SOC 43-4051, Customer Service Representatives. broader match.
Financial Counselor (Patient Financial Advocate) SOC 43-4051, Customer Service Representatives. broader match.
HIM Technician / Release of Information Specialist SOC 29-2072, Medical Records Specialists. broader match.
Senior Medical Coder SOC 29-2072, Medical Records Specialists. broader match.
Coding Supervisor SOC 43-1011, First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers. broader match.

What does this family cover in a hospital or clinic?

This family covers coding, billing, patient access, and follow-up on claims and accounts. Some roles review charts and assign codes. Others enter charges, work denials, verify coverage, or support enrollment and credentialing. We group them by daily work, not by title alone.

A coding supervisor may review workqueues and answer questions. A patient access lead may watch registrations, referrals, and authorizations.

What does a normal workday look like for these roles?

The day usually starts with worklists and open cases. A coder reviews documentation, diagnoses, procedures, and query notes. A biller posts charges, clears edits, and sends claims. An access rep checks eligibility, gathers demographic details, and routes patient questions. The work is steady and exacting.

Some roles stay close to providers and nurses. Others spend more time in claim systems, payer portals, and call queues.

Which decisions belong to the worker, and which stay with leadership?

The worker decides how to code within the chart, which claim issue to correct, and what follow-up to place on the account. Leadership decides policy, escalation paths, training standards, and when a case needs physician or compliance review. That line matters in daily work.

For credentialing and provider enrollment, the specialist gathers records and tracks file status. The manager decides if the file can move ahead.

What should we ask in an interview for this family?

We ask for examples from real work. For coders, ask how they handled unclear documentation and coder queries. For billers, ask how they worked an aging account or denial. For access staff, ask how they handled missing insurance details or a delayed authorization.

Ask what system they used, what part they owned, and when they asked for help. That shows daily judgment better than a title does.

How do these roles work with physicians, nurses, and front office teams?

Coders depend on provider documentation. Billers depend on clean charge entry and claim edits. Patient access staff depend on scheduling, registration, and insurance details from callers or arriving patients. These handoffs cross departments all day.

The best handoffs are direct. One person spots the issue, another fixes the source, and a lead decides when to escalate.

What should a hiring manager watch for before making an offer?

Look for accuracy, follow-through, and comfort with repetitive work. In coding, review experience with chart types and code sets. In billing and follow-up, check account work, denial notes, and payer contact habits. In access work, check phone work and documentation accuracy.

A strong hire can explain recent cases clearly. They know what they touched, what they changed, and what they left for review.

What else should you ask about this edition?

How do we separate coder roles from billing roles in a posting?

Say whether the person reviews clinical documentation or works claim activity. A coder should spend time in charts and query queues. A biller should spend more time in charge entry, claim edits, and payer follow-up.

What should we ask about inpatient, outpatient, or professional fee coding?

Ask which chart types they coded most often and what worklists they handled. Ask how they resolved unclear documentation and when they sent a query. That gives you real scope without relying on title alone.

How do we screen patient access or prior authorization candidates?

Ask how they verified coverage, gathered referral details, and handled missing information. Ask what they did when a patient arrived without complete paperwork. You want calm, accurate handoffs and clear notes.

What makes a good fit for denial work or AR follow-up?

Look for someone who can read a claim, find the missing piece, and document the next step. Ask how they worked payer portal issues, appeal letters, and call notes. The best answers are specific and recent.